💸 Cash Boost: Beijing-based startup Neolix Technologies has raised over US$600 million in one of the largest funding rounds in China’s autonomous vehicle market. The round was led by UAE-based Stone Venture, with participation from the state-backed Beijing AI Fund.
⛽️ Fuel for Growth: The proceeds will go toward algorithm and product development, manufacturing expansion, and international rollout. Previously, Neolix secured around 1 billion yuan (~US$140 million) in a Series C+ round, primarily dedicated to R&D.
🚚 Scale-Up Mode: More than 10,000 delivery robots are already operating in China. Neolix aims for nationwide regulatory approval and focuses on last-mile and middle-mile logistics in urban areas.
🌍 Desert Express: By 2026, Neolix plans to deploy 5,000 vehicles across the Middle East. Local partnerships and licenses are accelerating rollout and market entry.
🤖 Market Landscape: Alongside Neolix, players such as Meituan, JD Logistics, Pony.ai, and Zelostech are shaping China’s fast-growing autonomous delivery market. In 2025 alone, more than US$1.5 billion flowed into Chinese startups in this sector.
🏪 Client Shift: Previously, Neolix’s main clients were large logistics firms such as ZTO and SF Express. Now, the company is expanding into small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) — which already account for 50% of its revenue.
Big Picture
China’s autonomous delivery vehicle market is evolving from pilot projects to a full-fledged industry. The government promotes urban automation as part of its Smart City strategy, while growing capital from China and the Gulf is flowing into applied robotics such as delivery vehicles — a segment where scale and cost advantages are emerging faster than in self-driving taxis.
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